Suspended state trooper indicted on motor vehicle homicide charges

John Basler of Kingston, a suspended state trooper, has been indicted on charges of motor vehicle homicide while operating under the influence of alcohol in the September 22 crash in Plymouth that claimed the life of two Carver women.

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The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA

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Posted Apr. 30, 2014 at 6:55 PM
Updated Apr 30, 2014 at 7:03 PM

Posted Apr. 30, 2014 at 6:55 PM
Updated Apr 30, 2014 at 7:03 PM

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PLYMOUTH – A suspended state trooper was indicted by a grand jury for two counts of motor vehicle homicide while operating under the influence of alcohol, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz announced Wednesday.

John Basler of Kingston also faces six other charges, including two counts of motor vehicle manslaughter, and one count each of operating under the influence of alcohol, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and carrying a firearm while intoxicated.

Basler will be arraigned on the charges at a date to be determined in Brockton Superior Court, Cruz said in a statement..

The charges stem from an early-morning crash on Sept. 22 on Federal Furnace Road in West Plymouth the claimed the lives of a Carver woman and her 22-year-old daughter.

Susan Macchi, 64, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Her daughter, Juliet Macchi, died later at Jordan Hospital.

The Macchis were on their way home from a baseball game, investigators said.

Basler was off-duty and driving his own Toyota Corolla at the time of the crash. He was cited at the scene on drunken driving and driving to endanger charges.

Investigators said Basler was returning home from a housewarming party in Wareham at the time of the crash.

He was released on his own recognizance following his Oct. 10 arraignment in Plymouth District Court. Judge Brian Gilligan ordered him not to possess firearms, consume alcohol, and submit to random alcohol testing.

State Police suspended him indefinitely without pay on Oct. 3. He had graduated from the state police academy in March, 2013 and had been a uniformed patrol officer in the Boston area.